O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Yesterday was the first Sunday of Advent and also the first day of the new year in the Christian calendar. Unlike the rest of the world, the Christian new year doesn't start with celebrations, but with penitence, prayer, and solemn preparation for the entrance of a savior.
I know for myself that I've never paid much attention to advent preparation and have focused more on the celebration of Christmas. But yesterday it struck me that advent is arguably a more solemn time than Lent. With Lent, we know that salvation is already here, there is instead a focus on seeking forgiveness and embracing the cost of sacrifice.
During the time of advent, we remember what the world was like before God sent salvation. A dark time heavy with anticipation and anxiety. The Old Testament scriptures are full of what biblical scholars called the "messianic expectation." The messianic expectation is characterized as a longing for salvation and for a reparation to the covenant that had been broken between God and his people. The poets and prophets of old set forth these worries in words like these from Isaiah:
Since ancient times no one has heard,
no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you,
who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.
You come to the help of those who gladly do right,
who remember your ways.
But when we continued to sin against them,
you were angry.
How then can we be saved?
All of us have become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
we all shrivel up like a leaf,
and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
No one calls on your name
or strives to lay hold of you;
for you have hidden your face from us
and made us waste away because of our sins.
Yet, O LORD, you are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand.
Do not be angry beyond measure, O LORD;
do not remember our sins forever.
Oh, look upon us, we pray,
for we are all your people. (Isaiah 64:4-9)
What a dark time to be present in. How lucky we are to be on this side of the story and to already experience the hope and reconciliation! And yet, we still find ourselves at times in our lives where we experience darkness and do not know where to turn or how to proceed. Maybe it's then that we are in the advent of our lives.
Advent stems from the Latin word adventus which means "coming." As we experience advent seasons in our lives, we can follow the scriptures of old and learn how to wait on the Lord and for the outpouring of his mercy. He has already promised us that hope is coming and we continually celebrate the entrance of that hope each year at Christmas.
During this season of Advent, I plan on paying more careful attention to the time of expectancy,introspection, and submission to the will of God as I wait for the light that he brings. I hope some of you will join with me as I prepare.
We can join in this prayer I found for the lighting of the first advent candle...
Jesus, as we wait for your coming, help us not to be afraid and to trust in you. As we light this candle, we remember that you bring the light of hope into our lives. May your Word be always in our minds, on our lips and in our hearts. Amen
Monday, December 1, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
prayer for the weakened servant
With humble appreciation to Eddie and Allyson Willis and their beautiful children for the following thoughts and prayers were inspired by their music, literally and in life....
"Do not be afraid for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you go through the deep waters, I will be with you.
When you go through the rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be consumed by the flames.
For I am the LORD your God
The Holy One of Israel. Your Savior." -Isaiah 43:1b-3a
Abba, Father,
You knew these days before I came into existence. You knit me together in my mother's womb. You know the pain and the grace I would experience through my fresh and spirit before you had yet to hand craft them.
You created me to exist, love, and cope through trials of many kind.
You know the number of my days and hours of my darkness.
I do not even have power or knowledge over the next minute.
Surely, I have learned humility in all these years I have lived, but there is still more pride to be stripped from me.
I have always prayed for you to break me and you have clearly answered that prayer.
But please keep my so close to your spirit that even when I can't hear you or feel you, I can't fall without falling into you.
You knew my words before I could speak and my actions before I could walk.
I have been created and therefore must have purpose. Keep me reminded of that.
Love me through this time.
Make your strength perfect in my weaknesses so that it shines like a beacon.
But most of all Great Father, Deliverer, and Creator of all, just be close enough and small enough to hear me now.
"Do not be afraid for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you go through the deep waters, I will be with you.
When you go through the rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be consumed by the flames.
For I am the LORD your God
The Holy One of Israel. Your Savior." -Isaiah 43:1b-3a
Abba, Father,
You knew these days before I came into existence. You knit me together in my mother's womb. You know the pain and the grace I would experience through my fresh and spirit before you had yet to hand craft them.
You created me to exist, love, and cope through trials of many kind.
You know the number of my days and hours of my darkness.
I do not even have power or knowledge over the next minute.
Surely, I have learned humility in all these years I have lived, but there is still more pride to be stripped from me.
I have always prayed for you to break me and you have clearly answered that prayer.
But please keep my so close to your spirit that even when I can't hear you or feel you, I can't fall without falling into you.
You knew my words before I could speak and my actions before I could walk.
I have been created and therefore must have purpose. Keep me reminded of that.
Love me through this time.
Make your strength perfect in my weaknesses so that it shines like a beacon.
But most of all Great Father, Deliverer, and Creator of all, just be close enough and small enough to hear me now.
Monday, August 25, 2008
american values.
a community health nursing textbook says something like this:
There are only two values left in American Society:
1)Materialism: you are what you own
2)Individualism: you put yourself first and let the rest of the world worry about itself.
Reference.com says this:
1) Materialism (noun):
preoccupation with or emphasis on material objects, comforts, and considerations, with a disinterest in or rejection of spiritual, intellectual, or cultural values.
2) Individualism (noun):
1. a social theory advocating the liberty, rights, or independent action of the individual.
2. the principle or habit of or belief in independent thought or action.
3. the pursuit of individual rather than common or collective interests; egoism.
4. individual character; individuality.
5. an individual peculiarity.
6. Philosophy.
a. the doctrine that only individual things are real.
b. the doctrine or belief that all actions are determined by, or at least take place for, the benefit of the individual, not of society as a whole.
I say this:
These American values = the death of community
There is no room for community when we form attachments to "things" instead of people.
There is no room for community when in your life, there is only room your yourself and your personal gain.
that's why we (we representing society as a whole) spend more time taking care of our cars, our yards, and our homes instead of making sure basic needs are met for our neighbors.
that's why we spend more time in strategy meetings to increase sales and productivity at work instead of listening to our children's stories at the dinner table.
that's why we have forgotten the dinner table altogether and instead opt for family meals around the television set.
that's why we have "homebound" ministries at church that send a taped sermon to the house of the elderly or disabled each week so they feel a part of the congregation. What if we just sent the congregation to the homebound insead of a VHS?
What if the American Dream no longer included picket fences?
fences = exclusivity anyway
What if we appreciated the cultural feast of The Melting Pot instead of fearing diversity?
What if the Land of Opportunity and Promise actually meant that it promised opportunity to all instead of just to those who can afford it?
materialism.
individualism.
the noose of community.
There are only two values left in American Society:
1)Materialism: you are what you own
2)Individualism: you put yourself first and let the rest of the world worry about itself.
Reference.com says this:
1) Materialism (noun):
preoccupation with or emphasis on material objects, comforts, and considerations, with a disinterest in or rejection of spiritual, intellectual, or cultural values.
2) Individualism (noun):
1. a social theory advocating the liberty, rights, or independent action of the individual.
2. the principle or habit of or belief in independent thought or action.
3. the pursuit of individual rather than common or collective interests; egoism.
4. individual character; individuality.
5. an individual peculiarity.
6. Philosophy.
a. the doctrine that only individual things are real.
b. the doctrine or belief that all actions are determined by, or at least take place for, the benefit of the individual, not of society as a whole.
I say this:
These American values = the death of community
There is no room for community when we form attachments to "things" instead of people.
There is no room for community when in your life, there is only room your yourself and your personal gain.
that's why we (we representing society as a whole) spend more time taking care of our cars, our yards, and our homes instead of making sure basic needs are met for our neighbors.
that's why we spend more time in strategy meetings to increase sales and productivity at work instead of listening to our children's stories at the dinner table.
that's why we have forgotten the dinner table altogether and instead opt for family meals around the television set.
that's why we have "homebound" ministries at church that send a taped sermon to the house of the elderly or disabled each week so they feel a part of the congregation. What if we just sent the congregation to the homebound insead of a VHS?
What if the American Dream no longer included picket fences?
fences = exclusivity anyway
What if we appreciated the cultural feast of The Melting Pot instead of fearing diversity?
What if the Land of Opportunity and Promise actually meant that it promised opportunity to all instead of just to those who can afford it?
materialism.
individualism.
the noose of community.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
the agape call
Sin can be defined in many ways, but to me, it's best defined as an act in which one separates himself or herself from God. This can be a blatant offense against God, an offense against one's self or against others. As we are all created in the image of God, every act of sin is against God.
If God is love, as the scriptures say, then what we are committing in sin is an act against love. We are separating ourselves and others from love.
I heard these words today:
"Sin is the belief that there is not enough love in the world for everyone"
When you believe that love from your Creator or life force is only afforded to you for a particular reason, so you therefore keep it to yourself or give it only to those who you deem worthy, you engage in sin.
Or, in turn, if you do not love yourself, you engage in sin.
However, the Gospel message is that the Son of God was sent to earth to die in exchange for our sins. His was called Emmanuel or "God with/in us"
What does it mean that "God is with us"? As I mentioned before, the scriptures tell us that God is love. (1)
So, the "good news" of the Gospel is that there IS enough love for all of us.
It is our job, as followers of Christ...love that came down to earth...to engage ourselves in this love. We are not to confine it and keep it to ourselves, but share it, so that we are no longer chained by the shackles of sin.(2)
1st Corinthians 13 gives an account of practicing this type of love (3). The Greek translation of the word for love used in this passage is agape. Agape is defined as the love that God has for his people. The word agape was later translated to caritas in the Latin language which is the root word for the English word Charity.
Therefore:
We are called to live charitably.
We are called to love selflessly, benevolently, giving everything away and expecting nothing in return.
We are called to love all of humanity regardless of creed, color, sex, or orientation.
In loving, we find worth in something.
In loving, we give each other value.
In loving, we save each other from sin.
The agape call.
------------------------------------------------------------
(1) 1 John 4:8
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
(2)"The wages of sin is death" -Romans 6:23
The result of being unloving, hateful, unkind, selfish...is death of the spirit.
(3) Love
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
If God is love, as the scriptures say, then what we are committing in sin is an act against love. We are separating ourselves and others from love.
I heard these words today:
"Sin is the belief that there is not enough love in the world for everyone"
When you believe that love from your Creator or life force is only afforded to you for a particular reason, so you therefore keep it to yourself or give it only to those who you deem worthy, you engage in sin.
Or, in turn, if you do not love yourself, you engage in sin.
However, the Gospel message is that the Son of God was sent to earth to die in exchange for our sins. His was called Emmanuel or "God with/in us"
What does it mean that "God is with us"? As I mentioned before, the scriptures tell us that God is love. (1)
So, the "good news" of the Gospel is that there IS enough love for all of us.
It is our job, as followers of Christ...love that came down to earth...to engage ourselves in this love. We are not to confine it and keep it to ourselves, but share it, so that we are no longer chained by the shackles of sin.(2)
1st Corinthians 13 gives an account of practicing this type of love (3). The Greek translation of the word for love used in this passage is agape. Agape is defined as the love that God has for his people. The word agape was later translated to caritas in the Latin language which is the root word for the English word Charity.
Therefore:
We are called to live charitably.
We are called to love selflessly, benevolently, giving everything away and expecting nothing in return.
We are called to love all of humanity regardless of creed, color, sex, or orientation.
In loving, we find worth in something.
In loving, we give each other value.
In loving, we save each other from sin.
The agape call.
------------------------------------------------------------
(1) 1 John 4:8
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
(2)"The wages of sin is death" -Romans 6:23
The result of being unloving, hateful, unkind, selfish...is death of the spirit.
(3) Love
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
faith
Mark 5:25-34 (New International Version)
A large crowd followed and pressed around him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed." Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"
"You see the people crowding against you," his disciples answered, "and yet you can ask, 'Who touched me?' "
But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."
---------------------------------------------------
As the scripture says, the woman had been to many doctors and her condition had never gotten any better, in fact it had only gotten worse. There were many reasons why she should have never touched Jesus. At that time, it was unlawful for a woman to touch a man in public. On top of that, her illness, probably a menstrual or uterine disorder made her “ritually unclean.” If she touched anyone she would be defiling them, making them unclean. Being unclean made her an outcast. She had spent 12 years on the outskirts of society unable to commune with her friends, family, or anyone else except others who had been marked unholy by the ritual law.
Twelve years of not touching anyone or having anyone touch her.
She spent her days in darkness, in the solitary confinement of her own physical prison. Until one day a ray of hope shone through her thickening despair. That one day was when she heard that hope would be passing through her town.
This was probably the first time she had ventured out into a public since the onset of her illness. She knew the consequences. She risked being beaten, stoned, and killed for endangering the cleanliness and holiness of others. She bore the shame of soiled clothing, mockery, pointing fingers, appalled faces, and obscene remarks.
Yet, she edged her way to where He was. She laid eyes upon his face and her heart leapt. She knew that if she could only reach him, if she could maybe just grasp his robes, she would be healed. Back bent, hand stretched, she leaned down and grabbed the hem of his robes. She was instantly healed. She probably praised her Healer above and on the ground silently, but her praise was suddenly halted as her entire body froze in fear, for He had noticed that someone had touched him.
He turned around and asked who had touched him. The crowd gasped and the disciples were puzzled, as they so commonly were. Knowing that she was probably breathing her last breaths of air, she came forward and fell down at his feet for mercy, for hope that He would spare her life.
But he didn’t scold her.
Instead, He knelt down, grasped her hand and pulled her up.
He touched her.
He gave her a name, on that was very dear to him.
He called her family.
He called her daughter.
And with the few words that he said, “My daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. You have been healed,” he gave her something that she could not have attained on her own.
He gave back her dignity.
He pulled her out the crowd, pulled her out of her darkness, her despair, her shame, and he introduced her back into society.
More important than her physical healing, Jesus healed her community.
He gave her his community.
Women at this time were already on the outside of society looking in because they had no voice in how their daily lives were orchestrated. Men were in charge of making every decision. Although women were considered to be the keeper of the household, without a man, their household did not exist. The faith that this woman showed is remarkable. She suffered for a long time and had exhausted every hope of recovery. When she heard of this man named Jesus, she was immediately filled with hope and set out to find him even though it might cost her life. She didn’t ask for Jesus’ permission for healing because she figured he probably wouldn’t touch her, but she believed he was capable of the miracle. She reached out to touch him to test this faith, and her faith has become one of the most inspiring examples to date.
A large crowd followed and pressed around him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed." Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"
"You see the people crowding against you," his disciples answered, "and yet you can ask, 'Who touched me?' "
But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."
---------------------------------------------------
As the scripture says, the woman had been to many doctors and her condition had never gotten any better, in fact it had only gotten worse. There were many reasons why she should have never touched Jesus. At that time, it was unlawful for a woman to touch a man in public. On top of that, her illness, probably a menstrual or uterine disorder made her “ritually unclean.” If she touched anyone she would be defiling them, making them unclean. Being unclean made her an outcast. She had spent 12 years on the outskirts of society unable to commune with her friends, family, or anyone else except others who had been marked unholy by the ritual law.
Twelve years of not touching anyone or having anyone touch her.
She spent her days in darkness, in the solitary confinement of her own physical prison. Until one day a ray of hope shone through her thickening despair. That one day was when she heard that hope would be passing through her town.
This was probably the first time she had ventured out into a public since the onset of her illness. She knew the consequences. She risked being beaten, stoned, and killed for endangering the cleanliness and holiness of others. She bore the shame of soiled clothing, mockery, pointing fingers, appalled faces, and obscene remarks.
Yet, she edged her way to where He was. She laid eyes upon his face and her heart leapt. She knew that if she could only reach him, if she could maybe just grasp his robes, she would be healed. Back bent, hand stretched, she leaned down and grabbed the hem of his robes. She was instantly healed. She probably praised her Healer above and on the ground silently, but her praise was suddenly halted as her entire body froze in fear, for He had noticed that someone had touched him.
He turned around and asked who had touched him. The crowd gasped and the disciples were puzzled, as they so commonly were. Knowing that she was probably breathing her last breaths of air, she came forward and fell down at his feet for mercy, for hope that He would spare her life.
But he didn’t scold her.
Instead, He knelt down, grasped her hand and pulled her up.
He touched her.
He gave her a name, on that was very dear to him.
He called her family.
He called her daughter.
And with the few words that he said, “My daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. You have been healed,” he gave her something that she could not have attained on her own.
He gave back her dignity.
He pulled her out the crowd, pulled her out of her darkness, her despair, her shame, and he introduced her back into society.
More important than her physical healing, Jesus healed her community.
He gave her his community.
Women at this time were already on the outside of society looking in because they had no voice in how their daily lives were orchestrated. Men were in charge of making every decision. Although women were considered to be the keeper of the household, without a man, their household did not exist. The faith that this woman showed is remarkable. She suffered for a long time and had exhausted every hope of recovery. When she heard of this man named Jesus, she was immediately filled with hope and set out to find him even though it might cost her life. She didn’t ask for Jesus’ permission for healing because she figured he probably wouldn’t touch her, but she believed he was capable of the miracle. She reached out to touch him to test this faith, and her faith has become one of the most inspiring examples to date.
Friday, July 11, 2008
and in all of this, all of this, return to me
"You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings.
Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand--
You don't require burnt offerings or sin offerings.
Then I said, 'Look, I have come.
And this has been written about me in your scroll:
I take joy in doing your will, my God,
for your law is written on my heart"
-Psalm 40:6-8
--------------------------------------------
And as for me, I am poor and needy
A weary traveler on your path
Find my broken heart, barely beating
Not too gone to save, but too shamed to ask
What can I do to honor you?
For my words are too and my burdens too many
And yet you seek me in the dark
And carry me back into your heart
I could sing a thousand songs and offer up my voice to show I know you
I could give up all I have and strip my pride and wealth to show I care
But of all these things you've no desire
There's nothing I could do to make me holy
And in all of this I hear you say my child, come back to me
So I fall before your feet to give that life that you so loved
Here I am Lord, I have come
Return to me.
Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand--
You don't require burnt offerings or sin offerings.
Then I said, 'Look, I have come.
And this has been written about me in your scroll:
I take joy in doing your will, my God,
for your law is written on my heart"
-Psalm 40:6-8
--------------------------------------------
And as for me, I am poor and needy
A weary traveler on your path
Find my broken heart, barely beating
Not too gone to save, but too shamed to ask
What can I do to honor you?
For my words are too and my burdens too many
And yet you seek me in the dark
And carry me back into your heart
I could sing a thousand songs and offer up my voice to show I know you
I could give up all I have and strip my pride and wealth to show I care
But of all these things you've no desire
There's nothing I could do to make me holy
And in all of this I hear you say my child, come back to me
So I fall before your feet to give that life that you so loved
Here I am Lord, I have come
Return to me.
Friday, May 16, 2008
dancing in wait
wisdom from children:
As I was waiting to exit the plane from Phoenix to Austin, a little boy of maybe 3 sitting across the aisle from me fidgeted in anticipation. From his words, I gathered that he was excited to see his daddy and was not interested in spending one more second away from him stuck in an uncomfortable, pleather seat. His mother, who had been irritated with him most of the flight, absent-mindedly told him to hush and be still while she continued her text message conversation. The little boy continued to whine and pace in his small section until his older brother of about 6 years gave spoke these words to him:
"i know, i want to go too, but just don't think about it.
think about dancing instead.
or think that you're in bloomers and you're playing a game."
--------------------------------------------------------------------
maybe sometimes we're so busy looking ahead to the upcoming moments that we anticipate to be more exciting, that we forget to dance in the moments we're experiencing now.
maybe if we pretended we were in bloomers and playing a game in each moment, our lives would never be mundane.
may you all have the creative genius of a child and joy for every second.
As I was waiting to exit the plane from Phoenix to Austin, a little boy of maybe 3 sitting across the aisle from me fidgeted in anticipation. From his words, I gathered that he was excited to see his daddy and was not interested in spending one more second away from him stuck in an uncomfortable, pleather seat. His mother, who had been irritated with him most of the flight, absent-mindedly told him to hush and be still while she continued her text message conversation. The little boy continued to whine and pace in his small section until his older brother of about 6 years gave spoke these words to him:
"i know, i want to go too, but just don't think about it.
think about dancing instead.
or think that you're in bloomers and you're playing a game."
--------------------------------------------------------------------
maybe sometimes we're so busy looking ahead to the upcoming moments that we anticipate to be more exciting, that we forget to dance in the moments we're experiencing now.
maybe if we pretended we were in bloomers and playing a game in each moment, our lives would never be mundane.
may you all have the creative genius of a child and joy for every second.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
practicing arpeggios
An excerpt from my dear friend Alan Youngblood in response to a post on the Uganda Blog (http://www.elizabeth-justlove.blogspot.com/) called "Dear American Christianity"...
"...the most profound experiences of God are often the times we feel furthest from him. I've listened to Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah a lot lately...I think he says it well"
------------------------------------------------
Funny you should mention Jeff Buckley, Alan, because I've always been intrigued with that song..
"I heard there was a secret chord
That david played and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music you do?
Well it goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall and the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah"
As quoted above, I have been most fascinated by this first verse. A secret chord that pleased the Lord?
Let's talk about David. There's an interesting character. He weasels his way into power at the cost of betraying his best friend, steals another man's wife and commits adultery with her (most sources say that this occurred without consent from Bathsheba), forever tarnishes Bathsheba's honor and gets her pregnant, then tries to cover it up by various measures but eventually just makes sure that her husband is sent to the front lines of battle...in other words he has him murdered. Not to mention the fact that he's just a pompous ass for a good part of the scripture devoted to him.
To be honest, I really was not a big fan of David for a long time, until I heard this song and then I realized...we are all just like David. Selfish, pompous, manipulative, lustful...each one of us. We live this way until the weight of our own shame brings us to our knees and presses us prostrate at the feet of God. Forcefully humbled. Maybe that secret chord is the combination of notes strung together from a spirit of humility and gratefulness to a loving God in light of our own darkness.
The fourth chord is known as the "almost perfect" interval...it remains unresolved until the perfect 5th interval is played. the fourth, the fifth...could these be musical metaphors for the steps taken towards perfection of faith?
the minor fall, the major lift...another juxtaposition, but this time one of dissonance and one of harmony. I love this metaphor that musically illustrates first the notes played when our will falls out of tune with that of God's and then the glorious resolution of major chord lifting us back into communion with His will.
As a musician, I hear the world differently. To me, there is music in everything, but the most apparent music is in my journey tracing the footsteps of Christ. I can hear the major keys with each triumph and the minor or even diminished chords with each stumble. And thus my faith is a song, and sometimes I do feel like that baffled king composing my own hallelujah, but the beauty of music is that it is perfected in its technique and style over time as one devotes time to its practice.
I'll think I'll just keep banging on chords until they finally form a requiem.
"...the most profound experiences of God are often the times we feel furthest from him. I've listened to Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah a lot lately...I think he says it well"
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Funny you should mention Jeff Buckley, Alan, because I've always been intrigued with that song..
"I heard there was a secret chord
That david played and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music you do?
Well it goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall and the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah"
As quoted above, I have been most fascinated by this first verse. A secret chord that pleased the Lord?
Let's talk about David. There's an interesting character. He weasels his way into power at the cost of betraying his best friend, steals another man's wife and commits adultery with her (most sources say that this occurred without consent from Bathsheba), forever tarnishes Bathsheba's honor and gets her pregnant, then tries to cover it up by various measures but eventually just makes sure that her husband is sent to the front lines of battle...in other words he has him murdered. Not to mention the fact that he's just a pompous ass for a good part of the scripture devoted to him.
To be honest, I really was not a big fan of David for a long time, until I heard this song and then I realized...we are all just like David. Selfish, pompous, manipulative, lustful...each one of us. We live this way until the weight of our own shame brings us to our knees and presses us prostrate at the feet of God. Forcefully humbled. Maybe that secret chord is the combination of notes strung together from a spirit of humility and gratefulness to a loving God in light of our own darkness.
The fourth chord is known as the "almost perfect" interval...it remains unresolved until the perfect 5th interval is played. the fourth, the fifth...could these be musical metaphors for the steps taken towards perfection of faith?
the minor fall, the major lift...another juxtaposition, but this time one of dissonance and one of harmony. I love this metaphor that musically illustrates first the notes played when our will falls out of tune with that of God's and then the glorious resolution of major chord lifting us back into communion with His will.
As a musician, I hear the world differently. To me, there is music in everything, but the most apparent music is in my journey tracing the footsteps of Christ. I can hear the major keys with each triumph and the minor or even diminished chords with each stumble. And thus my faith is a song, and sometimes I do feel like that baffled king composing my own hallelujah, but the beauty of music is that it is perfected in its technique and style over time as one devotes time to its practice.
I'll think I'll just keep banging on chords until they finally form a requiem.
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